--- title: 3.4.K-2.C description: 3.4.K-2.C Explain ways that places differ in their physical characteristics, their meaning, and their value and/or importance. image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # 3.4.K-2.C Explain ways that places differ in their physical characteristics, their meaning, and their value and/or importance. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse 3.4.K-2.C Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Parent-and-Offspring-Behaviors-2.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/engineering-dams) ## [Engineering Dams In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of animal behaviors of parents and offspring that help the offspring survive. This page is a high-level extract of lesson two in which students mimic the beaver’s behavior of building dams to design their own dams that solve the problem of flooding.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/engineering-dams) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/engineering-dams) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-10-26-56-0229-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/earth-events) ## [Earth Events In the last unit, students explored the properties of different kinds of matter, connecting a material’s properties with the functions for which it is used. In this unit, students focus on Earth materials and the science phenomena of processes that change them (specifically weathering and erosion). ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/earth-events) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/earth-events) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-10-30-42-3210-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/mapping-land-and-water) ## [Mapping Land and Water In the last unit, students explored how weathering and erosion change Earth materials, and then designed an engineering solution that reduces erosion. In this unit, students are introduced to the science phenomena of landforms on Earth’s surface, exploring how scientists use maps to represent the shapes and kinds of land and water on Earth’s surface.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/mapping-land-and-water) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/mapping-land-and-water) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-10-34-47-2249-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/habitats) ## [Habitats In the last unit, students explored patterns in land and water on Earth. They build on that knowledge in this unit with a focus on how living things are found in different habitats around the planet, and how living things depend on both living and nonliving components of their environment for survival.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/habitats) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/2nd-grade-science/habitats) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/insect-anatomy-structure-and-function1.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/ant-behavior-and-food) ## [Ant Behavior and Food Once students have modeled the science phenomena of insects’ body parts, they then focus on one kind of insect: the ant. They conduct an experiment to test the taste preference of harvester ants, and observe how ants use their different body parts to get food, communicate with one another, and carry out other life functions.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/ant-behavior-and-food) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/ant-behavior-and-food) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it. ![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo") Quick Links Resources Sign Up for Our Blog ### Sign Up for Our Blog Connect with Us - - - - © 2026 KnowAtom LLC  •  10 Brady Drive Unit 3   •  Ipswich MA •   01938 USA [DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION](https://www.knowatom.com/do-not-sell-my-personal-information) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.knowatom.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.knowatom.com/terms-of-use) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Salem", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "01970", "streetAddress" : "27 Congress Suite 410" }, "alternateName" : "KA", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "+42.5182274", "longitude" : "-70.8877569" }, "geoRadius" : "150 km" }, "description" : "Next Generation Science STEM Curriculum", "email" : "fvigeant@knowatom.com", "image" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KA-GSD.png", "logo" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Knowatom-2017/Image/logo-1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.knowatom.com/3.4.k-2.c", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "3.4.K-2.C Explain ways that places differ in their physical characteristics, their meaning, and their value and/or importance." }, "name" : "KnowAtom", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KnowAtom", "https://twitter.com/KnowAtom", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0rbN0RfqaU1xaISrdVpTA", "https://plus.google.com/110709105138117096940" ], "telephone" : "(617) 475-3475", "url" : "https://www.knowatom.com" } ```